Mile Posts is a running blog by Dorothy Beal. From how to train for your first 5K to funny memes on how to laugh your way through marathon training. Mile Posts is your go to place for all things running!

19

Aug 2013

Saucony Kids Kinvara Running Shoe Review

August 19, 2013

The Kinvara is my go to running shoe. Yes, I often rotate among various {mostly neutral} Saucony running shoes but the Kinvara’s make their way to my feet the most often.

Finding out their was a children version of the Kinvara made me way too happy. As soon as Chloe outgrows her current running shoes, she will be getting these bad-girls, in the mean time Miles gets to have all the fun with his.

What 5 year old Miles had to say about his new running shoes:

They are nice. Comfy. Good for climbing. Good for jumping. I like the colors – green and blue. I like running in them.

Product Info: {taken from Stride Rite website – no point in paraphrasing!}

Lightweight like the adult version but made especially for young feet with Stride Rite quality-construction inside. The Kinvara 4 features minimal overlays for greater flexibility and support.

Synthetic and mesh upper

EVA midsole with grid system for lightweight and responsive cushioning

FlexFilm overlays provide lightweight support in the upper

Anti-microbial lining to fight odor

Non-marking outsole for traction and durability

Available in medium and wide widths

Imported

Saucony Kids:

· Saucony Kids is designed with Saucony DNA but engineered with Stride Rite know how. The look and feel you love about your Saucony’s, your kids can feel and look the same with what we like to call “kid-rite” design.

· Kid-rite design means that all of the shoes are specifically designed for the healthy development of a child’s foot vs. just shrinking down the adult version. This means the outsole is ultra-flexible and durable for little ones who are off and running and appropriate technical elements for older kids who maybe already be running faster than you!

· The brand features various closures across the collections (lace, hook & loop, z-strap) and multiple widths from medium to XXW.

The shoes look great, appear to be well made, have been holding up just fine to normal 5 year old wear and tear. The retail cost is $60. If these were just knock around shoes I might not pay $60 for shoes for a 5 year old. The Kinvara’s however are worth the $60 to me to know that as my son runs around he is wearing proper footwear that is going to support his growing feet!

As school is just around the corner, my husband and I have been searching for extra curricular activities we can get our kids involved in that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Now that we have running shoes for all of them it seemed like a logical idea to sign them up for track. Potomac River Running, a local family owned chain running store in our area has a Youth Track Program that starts Sunday, September 8th. Chloe and Miles are REALLY EXCITED to get to be “real runners” like mommy and daddy are.

You don’t have to sign your children up for a race or even youth track to get them in to running. We like driveway races in our house or going up to the local elementary track and run/walking circles. We don’t put pressure on our kids when it comes to running, we want it to be something fun they GET to do not something they feel like they HAVE to do!

Thanks for the review! To be honest I’m always trying to buy my own sneakers in children’s sizes because they’re so much cheaper. And although companies are starting to make a better running shoe for children, they’re still not the same as the adult shoes.

They aren’t the same as adult shoes because children’s feet have different needs that adults do but I totally get wanting to save some money!! Have you thought about finding adult shoes on a discount site?